Menorahs

Lighting the menorah is a symbolic and wondrous ritual. On the first night of Hanukkah, blessings are recited and the first candle is placed in the menorah in the spot furthest to the right. On each successive night another candles is added to the menorah, adding candles from right to left, but lighting them from left to right, using the shamash to light each wick. The addition of light with each successive night symbolizes the greatness and growth of the miracle that occurred so many years ago.

At Judaica Specialties we carry a wide selection of menorahs that range from traditional to those of a more novel character! If you’re interested in purchasing a piece that will delight the eye as well as the soul, you’ve come to the right place. Spend some time in our designer menorahs section and admire the assortment of streamlined silver plated menorahs, or take a glance at our brass menorahs and see if the Hora menorah calls to your inner dancer. You’ll find a variety of prized Tamara Baskin pieces; her vivacious fused glass menorahs will add a bit of color and life to any room in your home! You must take a minute to look through our Novelty Menorahs; you might just leave with a handbag menorah designed for the shopaholic, or for the East Coaster in you, a menorah that boasts the skyline of New York! No menorah collection would be complete without the inclusion of standouts from the Gary Rosenthal Collection. Of course you will also find a more classic rendition of the menorah if you so prefer, and as always we have an exciting collection of sale items just waiting for you!

The nine-branched Chanukah menorah, or the chanukkivah, was modeled on the Holy Temple’s menorah, and boasts an extra branch on each side to accommodate the eight lights needed to commemorate the eight days of Chanukah, and a central light known as the service light orshamash, which is used to light the other candles. The Torah commands that in Jerusalem’s Temple there should be a seven-branched menorah, but that the private use of such a lamp is prohibited.

When first produced, ancient menorahs were formed from clay, and lit by olive oil. The design for today’s traditional menorah was conceived in the Middle Ages and is composed of a nine-branched lamp that stands on a base. Yet despite the familiarity with this established design, today there are many shapes, colors, and themes that have transformed the menorah into a work of art in its own right. The only requirement of a menorah is that the candles are separated enough so that one can distinguish the individual flames; if the menorah were to appear to hold one large flame, it would resemble a pagan bonfire.